I have been reading some of the forums on lift pumps and I have a couple of questions. What is a tell tale sign that your lift pump is going bad if you do not have gauges? For the guys that have already replaced one what was the mileage when it was replaced?

 

For me it was when I noticed my fuel pressure had dropped to 0psi. At that point I concluded my lift pump had failed. 30k miles

 

without gauges?? too be honest the only way too tell is with a guage. Whether it be in your truck or while doing a flow test. Another way might be when your VP44 takes a dump...then you know the lift pump has had it. Mine was at 35K

 

what are the average numbers when a flow test is performed??

I think my LP is almost gone and I have to make an appointment with my dealer to do a flow test (not that I think they know how) thx

 

Almost a necessity to have a fuel pressure gauge, unless you want that $1300 VP-44 to die, as mentioned above.

Have heard of them lasting 5,000 miles, and some last 100,000 miles. This is the one true gremlin that haunts in truly undefined fashion.

Matt

 

Thanks for the info. What is the best type of guage to use...best place to mount it and where the cheapest place to get it at? I have 32,000 miles on mine and from reading all the threads I guess I better get on the ball and get some guages. Does anone know of a good Diesel shop in northern CA?

 

My truck was a good learning tool for me, My truck is in the class of overmaintaned. about a year before i lost my Vp-44 i noticed that on rare occasions the truck cranked 3-5 seconds before starting, I changed filters and payed no attention to the symtoms of the lift pump. I had not found this forum yet. I have 7 CTD's in my family at 140,000 I replaced my lift and VP-44 , I went on a Fuel pressure checking mission. My brother in laws was running 5 psi at idle, I replaced his lift pump at 107,000. My mothers was running 3 psi I replaced hers at 111,000. My other brother in law Has 122,000 and is still running a good 12psi . I will replace that lift in the next 30 days Just because. Out of the 7 trucks 4 are 24vand 3 are 12v. FYI the 1992 12v had 580,000 when I replaced the pump on it. It is past 600,000 now and runs fine but is loosing oil pressure. The answer to the question, Check your fuel pressure, check it often. Get a guage.

 

Mine lasted 135,000, but it could have been going south earlier. I never checked it or worried about it.

 

Until you get guages installed, I would recommend the Briar Hopper fuel pressure guage. It's inexpensive, and temporarily hooks to the Schrader valve on the IP or the fuel filter cannister. Set the guage on the windshield and go. It removes of course after testing. You can get one online. A definate sign of LP failure is the inability to fill the fuel filter cannister after draining and filter replacement. This might be a good thing because it prevents starting until things are fixed.